Coromandel Peninsula

We left the Bay of Islands, drove south and then up onto another peninsula called the Coromandel Peninsula.  We stayed a night in Thames on the eastern shore at a holiday park in a little camper unit – we even had our own chook in the morning!

Thames at sunset

Our holiday park unit, complete with chook

We drove to Coromandel Town and saw more familiar sights like sheep on a hillside.  

We went for a ride on the Driving Creek Railway, a fun train set up by an imaginative potter.  He started the train originally to bring clay down from the hillside, but later expanded the route and cars for tourists to help pay the bank loan for the property. 

Two small trains snaking their way up through the bush

Our next stay was in Hahei on the east coast of the peninsula, a popular destination because it is close to Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.  We were lucky to be able to go on a kayaking trip to Cathedral Cove with the folks at Cathedral Cove Kayak Tours – the next day the seas were too wild and all kayaking trips were cancelled, but we still managed to get in some good hiking. 

Kayaking around Motueka (Pigeon) Island

Hot chocolate or coffee on the beach 

New Zealand dotterel

No kayaking today

Hot Water Beach has hot springs – in between high/low tides you can dig in the sand and create your own hot pool.  We were not able to time this right due to rain, tides and darkness, so Paul only got lukewarm water, but we made up for it by visiting the nearby Hot Water microbrewery and trying one of their beers.   We will have to return another time.

Paul tasting the Easy Rider Pale Ale from Hot Water Brewing

On the drive back down the peninsula,we stopped at a gold mine in Waihi and, for a break, walked around the Pit Rim Walkway.

The old Cornish Pumphouse on the Pit Rim Walkway

Major rock slip at the Waihi gold mine

In Paeroa we took a quick photo of Paul with a Kiwi icon – the L & P Lemonade bottle. 

Our last destination was Miranda Shorebird Centre with a viewing hut on saltwater flats.  We arrived while a primary school class was visiting.  Some of the kids found us as interesting as the birds.  We were able to view a number of different shorebirds through scopes.  The birds were too far away for us to get a good photo, but we have included a stock photo of a wry bill, the only bird with a bill that is bent to one side.  The bent or wry bill allows the bird to pick up insects from under rocks.

Viewing blind at Miranda Shorebird Centre

Bar-tailed godwits in front, royal spoonbills in back

A wrybill - the cutest bird we saw at Miranda

Back to real civilization – we drove to Aucklund, the largest city in New Zealand with a population of 1.495 million.  We generally like less populated areas, but managed to fill our 2 days with eating good food and viewing the city sights including the Art Museum, yachts, and the Sky Tower.  We also attended the musical Billy Elliot, the first show at the newly opened ASB Waterfront Theatre. 

Auckland Art Gallery - excellent and free! 

No, we did not join in the bungee jumping from the Sky Tower